Misty smiled though the corner of her lip was twitching, “Oh, Daisy is coming along too? That……. sounds like fun. Well we’re…… happy to have you.”

Daisy smiled graciously, “Thank you very much.” She shook her bags excitedly, “I can’t wait to get started! I traveled to Indigo Plateau once but, besides that, I’ve never been outside of Pallet! I was so envious of you and Gary Ash.” She leaned forward talking to the boy on Misty’s shoulder.

Misty jerked backwards instinctively and Ash had to wrap his arms around one of her red suspender straps to keep from plummeting to his doom.

Ash sweat dropped and returned Daisy’s smile, “Well we’re going to other places besides Johto. Afterwards we’re hunting down some rare water pokemon and we’ll probably be headed to the Orange Isles, if you come with us I’m sure you’ll love it. Sunny beaches, crystal clear water, resorts with tons to do, you’d love it.”

“Um, Ash dear” Misty interrupted, trying not to come off as rude, “I think Daisy’ll only be traveling with us until we give Prof Birch Professor Oak’s research.”

“Well, that was the plan…… But I really like Ash’s suggestion! Maybe I could keep traveling with you after?”

“Er… That would be fine….. but…… well… After we drop off the professor’s information we’re trying to track down rare water pokemon. That’ll take a fair amount of patience, cunning, and skill. It could also be fairly dangerous. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt or fatigued. It wouldn’t be a very fun trip.” Misty tried to dissuade her.

“And you’d be taking my Ashley with you on all these dangerous Pokemon hunts?” Delia asked quietly.

“Oh.” Misty realized she had just put her foot in her mouth, “It really isn’t THAT dangerous Mrs. Ketchum, honestly; and I’ll guard Ash with my life! If ever I thought pursuing a pokemon might put him in danger I’d turn around immediately.” Misty’s face had become stone as images of the many different accidents that might occur flashed through her head, “Nothing will happen to him. I’d die before I’d let anything happen to him.”

Though Delia was now somewhat nervous about their plans for after traveling to Hoenn Misty’s resolve and obvious affection for her son helped put her mind somewhat at ease. Misty was determined to keep her boyfriend safe by any means necessary, that much was clear. But she still was a spunky young girl, and girls like Misty could be reckless and take risks. She might not realize her son was in danger until something bad had come to pass.

“Well….. I can’t stop you kids from hunting your pokemon just…… be careful.” Delia’s eyes started to water.

“We will.” Misty lightly dropped Ash into his mother’s hands; she kissed on the forehead (really the upper half of his body) five or six times before returning him to Misty.

The fivesome said there good byes and left the Ketchum residence, the question of whether Daisy would travel with them after visiting the lab in Johto remained unanswered.

Traveling to the Johto region would actually only take a day or two. Ships regularly ran from Kanto to Johto to Hoenn. Vermilion City was the best place to get a ship but there was also a dock a day or two’s travel from Pallet, right outside Viridian City. It’s mostly used for Johto and Hoenn pokemon trainers who want a chance to battle the Elite Four. The group decided the dock near Viridian City would be their next destination.

Misty chatted with Daisy and found herself liking the girl despite her initial fear that she might be a rival for Ash’s attention. Daisy, having babysat Ash, was full of fun little stories that caused her boyfriend to blush crimson. Like the time Ash hid in his bedroom for half a day when a magikarp, the first pokemon he’d ever seen up close, shattered its aquarium and flopped around in the living room. Or when Ash got his first kiss….. from Gary. Casey decided to get involved to, after laughing at Ash’s childhood she told about some of her experiences with the Electabuzz’s and Brad.

Soon enough it was growing dark. They were only a few miles from town and the docks but ships wouldn’t be ferrying passengers until morning. They decided to camp out. Misty carefully set Ash on the ground. Soon they had a campfire going.

“How would you like some smores tonight?”

“Oh, I love smores!” Casey laughed, Brad nodded in agreement, “Chocolate, marshmallow, and banana! Yum!”

Brad stopped nodding, “I don’t know about banana.”

Daisy smiled, “Smores sound like fun.”

“Of course that won’t be our main meal.” Casey butted in, “I don’t know about you Daisy, but Misty and I are going to eat some of the snacks we picked up from Ash’s house.”

Daisy looked confused, “What did you pick up?”

“Shrinkees, nice meaty ones too. They look like they’re all in their twenties. Ash’s mom has good taste.” Casey whipped out her backpack.

Daisy paled.

Misty was a bit too preoccupied with Ash at the moment to notice Daisy’s reaction. The night before he’d slept between her breasts but that was much too dangerous and a very stupid move Misty realized, in hindsight.

“Ash, honey, would you mind sleeping in my tennis shoe again?” It really wasn’t up for debate but Misty didn’t want to make Ash feel like she was forcing him into it.

It just wasn’t safe for him to sleep next to her. What if she should roll over? What it a hungry spearow should spot him? No, he had to go back into her shoe. It was the only place he was safe.

“No problem Mist!”

Daisy, however, crinkled her nose, “Ash, sweetie, that’s no way to live! It isn’t very hygienic and I doubt it’s very comfortable.”

Misty felt some of her old resentment for Daisy flicker inside of her despite the past few hours of laughing and stories they’d shared. She shouldn’t be calling Ash any pet names for one thing, but more importantly she shouldn’t be undermining her in front of Ash. It made her look bag.

“Well,” Misty replied in an unusually sweet voice, “Where do you suggest Ash sleep?”

“I think Ash would much prefer a pillow to a sneaker, and some cloth to keep warm. Actually I knitted you a little wool blanket Ash, I forgot to give it to you earlier.”

“Really? Gee thanks Daisy! Now I won’t have to use Misty’s socks!”

Misty was quickly losing patience with the newest addition to their party, “Ash can’t be out in the open, what if a wild pokemon snatches him up in the middle of the night? And as for the socks, they aren’t just to keep Ash warm. I also use them to block off the entrance to the shoe to keep predators out.”

“So Ash doesn’t get any fresh air at all? That’s terrible! Do you, at least, give him clean, unused socks?” Misty turned a little red, “Well… I try… I mean… I usually…”

“Can’t we discuss this later? I’m hungry.” Casey butted in, she pulled a squirming screaming baggie out of her backpack.

“Oh yeah, I’m starved.” Misty was happy for an excuse to end the conversation.

Once more Daisy paled.

“Two for you and two for me….. The rest we can save for…. Mmmmmmm……. Other stuff.” Casey giggled wickedly.

Misty shook her head, “Not for me, not anymore.” She looked at Ash apologetically, she still felt bad about the bathroom incident even though Ash had forgiven her and even implied it would be all right if she kept using shrinkees as sex toys.

“Suit yourself.” Casey shrugged, “more for me.”

“Hey, I can’t eat em, I’m no cannibal.” Brad pointed out.

“I’ll whip you up something” Casey promised.

Daisy just couldn’t fathom it. A bag of young men, each with different families, memories, dreams, goals, and life experiences… about to die in the stomachs of girls half their age. Their lives would all end after several decades of life. Just a meal in a series of three, eaten every single day.

Seeing two naked bodies fall into Misty's hands she decided she had to do something.